Tuesday, April 20, 2010 (DT 26126)

This puzzle, set by Giovanni, was originally published Friday, January 1, 2010 in The Daily Telegraph

The National Post has skipped DT 26124 and DT 26125 which were published in The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, December 30, 2009 and Thursday, December 31, 2009 respectively

Introduction

The posting is late as I had a lot going on yesterday. I had occasion to spend several hours at a rather isolated location during which there were long stretches of inactivity. I had lots of time to work on the puzzle - but no access to a computer. Even without my Tool Chest, I managed to solve most of the puzzle. Despite my best efforts, the northeast quadrant remained incomplete until I could get online. I also had to do a web search to find the literary work at 21d (not being familiar with this novel although I have read another work, Tom Jones, by the same author). I did give myself a hearty pat on the back for having correctly deciphered the obscure Latin term at 15a - although I was not sure of my answer until I had a chance to check it in the dictionary (and it would seem to appear in very few dictionaries). Finally, I must say that I derived the most satisfaction for having tracked down the solution to 13a which Gazza says "may be a total mystery to anyone who is not into rugby".

Today's Glossary

Some possibly unfamiliar abbreviations, people, places, words and expressions used in today's puzzle

A1 - the longest numbered road in the U.K., connecting London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland.

absit omen - Latin may the presentiment not become real or take place

Amelia - a novel by English writer Henry Fielding

Imagist - a member of Imagism, a movement in early 20th-century Anglo-American poetry

jolly - [Collins English Dictionary] noun 3. Brit slang a Royal Marine

strop - noun Brit. informal a temper

Today's Links

Gazza's review of today's puzzle may be found at Big Dave's Crossword Blog [DT 26126].

Commentary on Today's Puzzle

9a A component of this scheme may be A1 (4,3)

Here "scheme" does not mean "a secret or underhand plan or plot" but rather it is used in the sense of "a systematic plan or arrangement for achieving a particular object or effect" - for which another term could be ROAD MAP. The A1 is the longest numbered road in the U.K., connecting London, England and Edinburgh, Scotland.

13a Swinger at England's rugby matches? (7)

Just as fans of the Boston Red Sox sing Neil Diamond's hit Sweet Caroline during every game, fans of the England rugby team sing Swing Low, Sweet Chariot. This song "has been sung by English rugby players and fans for some decades, but became associated with the English national side, in particular, in 1988." From Gazza's account, somewhat suspect due to his self-admitted position as an ardent supporter of Wales, fans of England do not sing it with anything approaching a Southern Baptist gospel tempo. His description hardly makes it sound to be as stirring an experience as a rendition of Sweet Caroline at Fenway Park.

Signing off for today - Falcon